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Martin Smith

Smith, 53, left an insurance career to join the fledgling mobile phone business, selling the early bulky handsets for BT. In 1986 he co-founded Mobile Telecom Group, which became an airtime provider for Vodafone. Smith owned 80% of the Croydon-based company and sold his stake in 2001, netting £24m. He has a number of business interests, including MES Investments.